Balla Mart saw keen demand for a batch of Blue-cross in-calf heifers presented by a local farmer at its general cattle sale on Saturday last.

A consignment of AI-bred heifers from pedigree Montbeliarde dams were scanned in-calf to a pedigree red Angus stock bull and due to calve between September and October, with all heifers spring 2024-born and homebred.

All heifers were vaccinated for bluetongue and IBR.

Top call of the day was a February 2024-born blue and white heifer sired by the popular AI bull SFL. Weighing 650kg, she sold to an online buyer for €6,150 (€9.46/kg.)

Following close behind was another blue and white heifer born March 2024. She tipped the scales at 655kg and sold for €6,050 (€9.24/kg).

The final heifer to cross the €6k barrier was a red and white heifer sired by the popular Blue bull Chocolat. Weighing 725kg, the March 2024-born heifer was knocked down to a ringside buyer for €6,000.

The final two heifers of the batch sold for €5,200 and €4,450, with the videos of both seen below.

The five heifers averaged €5,570.